Compton man convicted of murder in traffic death of motorcyclist

A Compton man has been convicted of second-degree murder in the hit-and-run fatal traffic accident of a motorcyclist on the 105 Freeway more than a year ago.

Jurors deliberated less than a day before finding Jose Corona, 31, guilty Friday of second-degree murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident, Deputy District Attorney Drew Josfan said. Additionally, Corona was found guilty of misdemeanor driving with a suspended or revoked license.

He is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Laura Walton on March 17 in Compton Superior Court in Compton before. Corona faces a maximum sentence of 20 years to life in state prison.

Corona was driving westbound on the 105 Freeway at about 10:30 p.m. Jan. 9, 2013, when his vehicle swerved into the carpool lane and fatally struck motorcyclist Kyle Nolan Silva, 22, the prosecutor said.

Instead of stopping after the crash, the driver took off. An off-duty sheriff’s deputy saw the collision, followed Corona on the freeway and alerted the California Highway Patrol.

Just east of the 405 Freeway, the defendant abruptly stopped his car, the prosecutor said. CHP approached the vehicle and discovered Corona asleep at the wheel.

He was immediately taken into custody and it was discovered that his blood alcohol level was 0.15 percent, nearly twice the legal limit for driving.

According to evidence presented in court, Corona had two prior DUIs from 2003 and 2010. At the time of the car crash, he was on probation for a DUI, authorities said.

Silva, who worked for Olympic Security in Vernon, was on his way home from work on his newly purchased Honda motorcycle when the crash occurred. Corona lost control of his van while traveling at 65 to 70 mph, the CHP said.

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Silva was thrown into the center divider, with the van pinning him against the median.

The El Segundo High School graduate had worked for an EZ Lube in Redondo Beach, Dynamic Protective Services in Westwood and UPS in Gardena before joining Olympic Security.

At the time of his death, his mother, Gloria Silva, told the Daily Breeze: “He was a very, very good kid. It’s not fair that my son obeys all the rules and then is left to die by a drunk driver with priors.

“He was my angel. He meant the world to me. I don’t get it. I just don’t get it.”